Above: The Papageorge Organ Trio, at Novo, Jackson Heights, NY - Spring, 2008
Photos: E. Rudolph
URBAN FERVOR: REAL JAZZ IN JACKSON HEIGHTS....Two nights a week!
UPDATE, 10/30/08: The Weds. night set has been eliminated, but Novo is still jazzfull on Monday and Thursdays.
Novo, at 78-23 37th Ave. in the heart of Jackson Heights, has great live jazz two nights a week (with no cover charge).
Mondays is the Jim Hershman Trio (guitar-based jazz); Weds. is Barco De Brasil, Brazilian Samba jazz played by serious cats (regulars Chris Benham on drums and Nathan Peck on 5-string electric and acoustic bass) and featuring terrific female singers. UPDATE, 10/30/08: The Weds. night set is no more, but Novo is still jazzfull on Monday and Thursdays.
Thursdays it’s the George Papageorge Organ Trio, Hammond B3-style soul jazz. This group was a mainstay at Smoke in Manhatttan on Wednesdays for years, and features Brian Floody on drums and Matt Chertkoff on guitar.
The standout in Novo’s excellent musical lineup is the Papageorge Organ Trio.
This is smokin’-hot soul jazz, and is just not to be missed. Papageorge is a young, passionate player with great chops and terrific ideas. Drummer Floody and guitarist Chertkoff are also terriific. Frequent fill-in guitarist is Coleman Mellet, who has played with Joe Williams, Frank Wess and Etta Jones and is a mainstay in Chuck Mangione’s band.
The Clavia Nord Hammond B-3 simulator keyboard used creates the best simulated Hammond B-3 sound I’ve heard yet.
The playing was first rate, the sound was good, and if I’d paid $20-$30 to hear this band at a Manhattan jazz club I would have felt my money was well spent.
Barco De Brazil and the Hershman Trio are also wonderful. This is a great thing for the nabe.
More to come on this terrific neighborhood resource.
NOVO, 79th St. and 37th Avenue, Jackson Heights, NY 718-426-7272. Music at Novo is on Mondays and Thursday nights, from around 7:30pm to 10pm.
Below: Barco De Brasil, in full swing at Novo.
